Good morning. If you’re looking to check a massive beer bucket list item off your list, you still have a week to make it to the beginning of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. The festivities begin Saturday at noon when the mayor of Munich taps the first keg in the Schottenhamel Tent.

Having attended this celebration 2 years ago, I have to say it has to be experienced to be believed - just the scale of the tents alone is a sight to behold and I recommend it for all beer lovers.

-Brandon Copeland

Seasonal Brewing: How to Brew the Perfect Fall/Winter Ale

As the temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, it’s the perfect time to brew beers that reflect the cozy, comforting atmosphere of fall and winter. It’s too late to brew a Märzen Oktoberfest beer, however there are plenty of other options to draw from. Seasonal ales are a great way to embrace the flavors of the season while experimenting with new ingredients and techniques.

Pumpkin ales are a popular choice for autumn, thanks to their rich, spiced profiles. To brew your own, start with a malty base—amber or brown ales work great for this. The key to a good pumpkin ale is balance; avoid overloading the beer with spices. Stick to cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice in moderation, or experiment with ginger and vanilla for added complexity. Roasted pumpkin or squash can be added during the boil for authentic flavor. A nice maple syrup and cinnamon sugar rim on the glass when served is the cherry on top.

For those cold winter nights, stouts and porters infused with warming spices like cinnamon, anise, or cardamom provide the perfect beverage to sip by the fire. Consider brewing a spiced winter stout, using darker malts to deliver chocolate and roasted flavors. Adding a hint of molasses or honey can contribute to a rich sweetness that balances the bitterness of the roasted grains.

Holiday ales, often brewed with festive ingredients like cranberries, orange peel, or spruce tips, are great for sharing with friends and family. Belgian strong ales or barleywines work well as a base for these complex, celebratory brews.

For inspiration for seasonal beer recipes, check out Brewgr to browse over 95,000 homebrew recipes of all different styles.

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Beer Trivia Question

🍺 What is the name of the beer style that originated in Cologne, Germany?

Read to the end to find out if you're right!

Homebrew Spotlight of the Week

Blichmann HellFire™ Floor Standing Burner

If you brew on a 3 tier system, and you have the ability to brew in your garage or outside, then a propane burner is the way to go. The HellFire Burner is top notch and can fit kettles up to 20 inches in diameter and can heat up to 140,000 BTU/hr.

Back when I brewed with a 3 tier setup trying to boil ~8 gallons of wort on my electric stovetop, I was desperate for a propane burner. However, living in an apartment, it was against the rules of my complex. Once I moved to a complex with gas stovetops, the difference in boil time was night and day. I can only imagine how fast you could get to a boil with one of these high powered propane burners.

Brewgr Recipe of the Week

Regular Lager

One of the hardest things to brew is a clear, delicious lager. It’s a style that has been commercially perfected, but when you’re brewing at home there are a myriad of challenges, the chief among them being temperature control during fermentation. However, there is something perfectly refreshing about a “Regular Lager” like this one - no frills, crisp, and reliable for any situation.

Credit: Brewer 125804

Poll Results: Do You Use Software To Track Your Recipes?

The last poll revealed that the majority of brewers do opt to use software to create and store homebrewing recipes. For those who don’t use software, they prefer pen on paper, and not having to use a phone/tablet/computer during brew day. If this is your concern, software like our very own Brewgr allow you to print out your recipe for brew day so you have a physical copy of the recipe.

For those of you who use software, you use a variety of software that meet your needs. The homebrewers that use Brewgr, thank you for trusting us with your precious beer recipes. Those who do not - maybe new features in the coming months/year will convince you to give Brewgr a try!

And the Answer Is...

🍺 Kölsch! And if you think “Hmm that’s a strange name from Cologne”, you would be correct - in German, this cities name is Köln, which makes more sense. Kölsch is interesting because it’s an ale but is conditioned at cold temperatures, giving it lager characteristics.